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Varmistan, että lukko menee kiinni, ennen kuin lähden kotiin.

Varmistan, että lukko menee kiinni, ennen kuin lähden kotiin.
I make sure that the lock clicks shut before I leave for home.
FromLesson 55inHardcore Finnish
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Questions & Answers about Varmistan, että lukko menee kiinni, ennen kuin lähden kotiin.

Why is varmistan in the present tense even though it sounds like a future action (“I will make sure”)?
Finnish commonly uses the present tense for near-future or general future actions, especially in everyday speech. So Varmistan can mean I make sure / I’ll make sure, depending on context. If you want to emphasize a single future act, you can still keep the present; Finnish doesn’t have a dedicated future tense.
What exactly does varmistaa mean here—“ensure”, “check”, or “confirm”?
Varmistaa is broad: it means to make sure / to ensure / to verify. In this sentence it often implies a quick check or confirmation that the lock is properly closed: I make sure the lock closes / is closed.
Why is there että after Varmistan?

että introduces a content clause (a “that”-clause) stating what you’re making sure of:

  • Varmistan, että … = I make sure that … It’s very common after verbs of saying/thinking/ensuring (e.g., tiedän, että… “I know that…”).
Why is there a comma before että?

In Finnish, subordinate clauses are typically separated by a comma. Since että lukko menee kiinni is a subordinate clause, it’s written:

  • Varmistan, että …
Why is it lukko menee kiinni and not something like “the lock is closed”?

Finnish often expresses “becoming closed” with the verb mennä + kiinni:

  • mennä kiinni = to close / to shut (successfully), literally “to go shut” So lukko menee kiinni means the lock goes into the closed state (i.e., it closes properly).
What part of speech is kiinni, and what does it mean?

kiinni is an adverb/particle meaning closed, shut; attached; caught/holding depending on context. With doors/locks:

  • olla kiinni = to be closed
  • mennä kiinni = to close
  • laittaa kiinni = to close (something)
Why is menee in 3rd person singular? What’s the dictionary form?

The subject is lukko (singular), so the verb is 3rd person singular:

  • dictionary form: mennä = “to go”
  • 3rd person singular present: menee = “goes” So: lukko menee = “the lock closes/goes (shut)”.
Could I also say Varmistan, että lukko on kiinni? What’s the difference?

Yes, and it’s very natural:

  • lukko on kiinni = the lock is closed (state)
  • lukko menee kiinni = the lock closes (change/event, often implying “it actually shut properly”) In practice both can work; menee kiinni can emphasize the action/result of closing.
Why does Finnish use ennen kuin for “before”? Why two words?

ennen means “before” and kuin introduces a clause, roughly “before (the time) that …”.

  • ennen kuin lähden = before I leave If you’re not using a clause, you might use ennen with a noun phrase:
  • ennen lähtöä = “before leaving” (lit. “before departure”)
Why is there a comma before ennen kuin?

Because ennen kuin lähden kotiin is also a subordinate clause. Finnish normally puts a comma before subordinate clauses:

  • …, ennen kuin lähden kotiin.
Why is it lähden and not menen?

Both are possible, but they focus on different viewpoints:

  • lähteä = to leave/depart (focus: leaving the current place)
  • mennä = to go (focus: moving toward the destination) So ennen kuin lähden kotiin highlights leaving wherever you are (e.g., the office) to head home.
Why is it kotiin (with -in)? What case is that?

kotiin is the illative form of koti and means (to) home, i.e., motion into/toward home:

  • kotiin = to home / homeward (destination) Compare:
  • kotona = at home (location)
  • kotoa = from home (origin)

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